Chapter 343

Chapter 344: Want to Split Me Off?

Liao Zhi glanced at the banknotes in the box and was very satisfied with how sensible Tang Mo and his wife were. He had not only covered up the marquisal residence’s scandal for Tang Mo but had also spoken a few good words for him before His Majesty the Emperor; by that reckoning these five thousand taels were indeed money he had earned on his own merits, and at the thought he felt his back straighten a little. He said: “I will earn more in the future.”

Madam Liao waved for him to stop: “Don’t. Where are you going to earn it? Do you mean to ruin my relationship with my Xin family younger sister?”

Liao Zhi stood obediently and said: “I will help him again when I have the chance; if his wife has to thank you, that also counts as something I earned.”

He added, a bit guilty because he had no money yet kept spending: “Or, see what trade you two want to do next; I can help you.”

Madam Liao was pleased with his recent change and said: “When we need you, we will let you know. There is no need to do anything special for Tang Mo; it will look deliberate. Just put in your strength at the key moments.”

For some reason, after going out and coming back, he seemed much more considerate. Smiling, Madam Liao put the banknote away, reminded Liao Zhi to be cautious, and began thinking of ways to bring the young men of the Liao family forward: “It is tiring for you to hold up the household alone; it will be good to have more people helping. Pick a few; use the useful ones; do not force the useless ones. If anyone is dissatisfied with you, let him come to me. Last year is over; in the new year there must be new rules.”

Liao Zhi nodded and said: “I will.”

Very soon Xin An received a return gift from her Sister Xu: a pair of porcelain dolls, adorably chubby and very cute, said to have been placed before the Bodhisattva, which would bring her good “pregnancy” luck.

Meanwhile, Tang Mo once again sat down in front of Tang Gang and spoke about the gift he had given to Liao Zhi: “Five thousand taels. That is five thousand taels of solid silver.”

Tang Gang felt this silver was worth spending; if not for Liao Zhi suppressing the matter, the marquisal residence’s loss would have been far more than five thousand taels. Seeing Tang Mo’s look of deathly heartache, he felt, for no clear reason, a surge of anger in his chest and said: “I have already told your mother. From this year on you may draw five thousand taels from the accounts to use. Remember, this silver is for handling affairs, not for eating and drinking.”

Tang Mo grinned, showing his eight teeth, and said: “Eating and drinking is also a way of handling affairs.”

He added, smiling as if his laughter were worth nothing: “Then can the five thousand I spent now be counted as last year’s? Otherwise I will have spent it all at the outset. What will I spend for the rest of this year? Besides, for whom did I spend this money? Father should keep that in mind.”

On this point Tang Gang did not want to tangle with him, as he himself was the injured party in this affair, and said: “Have your mother give it to you later.”

Only then was Tang Mo satisfied. He said he would go in a moment, draw out the five thousand taels that were his, and hand them to his wife to keep. Tang Gang only felt a headache; such a rough-and-tumble fellow actually listened to his wife in everything. Was he not a bit too obedient?

Tang Mo said with confidence: “You don’t understand. Money in my wife’s hands can breed more money; in time she can turn five thousand taels into six thousand.”

With his look of my wife is very capable, he successfully made Tang Gang shut his eyes and drop the argument.

Seeing that he had achieved his purpose, Tang Mo brought up the matter of Xin Kuan’s return to the capital and said: “Nominally he is accepting an invitation from the imperial merchant Yao family to deliver this year’s tribute to the capital, but in truth he is coming to thank General Xu in person. In my view the Xu family is determined to pull Father-in-law onto their ship.”

He went on: “This is a ship Father-in-law cannot avoid boarding. Putting aside the benefits already in hand, he does not have the power to refuse. His Majesty the Emperor has the intention for me to draw closer to those old generals who once followed Grandfather; there must be a next step planned. In the past the marquisal residence did not seem worth much courting in the eyes of the princes; once Father-in-law enters the capital, this situation will likely change. Father must prepare early.”

Xin An had spoken well: before Tang Mo’s wings were fully grown, Tang Gang was the house’s main pillar, and such a great matter had to be told to him.

Tang Gang’s face grew solemn. He knew his own backsliding had given the Xu family the opportunity to draw in the Xin family. Regret was useless, yet to make him take a side was also unlikely.

Tang Mo said again: “Earlier, Father-in-law’s business met setbacks, so he entered the sugar trade. The last time my wife entered the palace, His Majesty the Emperor especially asked about sugar, which in my view shows he approves. It seems General Xu cleared this matter on the bright road before His Majesty. Last year Father-in-law, after many twists and turns, opened up every bottleneck. From sugarcane planting to sugar-making to the transport routes, everything is in place.”

“These three months are the key season for making sugar. I fear that by the time Father sees Father-in-law again, he will not only be a salt merchant but also a sugar merchant, a major sugar merchant.”

Although he had said he would not regret, at hearing all this Tang Gang suddenly felt a pang of remorse. He sipped tea to press down the surge of emotion, raised his eyes, and said: “Why did you not tell me earlier?”

Tang Mo rolled his eyes at him and said: “You did not give me the chance. How many times have I come to this study before? Even when I came, it was to be scolded. Did I have any chance to speak? Would Father have listened to what I said?”

Tang Gang hated himself for speaking too much just then. After thinking for a while he said: “Given the present situation, there is no choice left. Your father-in-law being drawn in by the Xu family is tantamount to leaning on the Second Prince. I fear the Xu family will settle this matter with him on this trip to the capital and will support your father-in-law to become a true commercial magnate, the Second Prince’s purse.”

“In such circumstances, the marquisal residence may not even be able to remain neutral.”

Who would believe he did not know the inside story?

Though Tang Mo knew that in his previous life it was the Second Prince who finally ascended the throne, he did not dare be certain it would be him again in this life. [He feared variables.] He had been involved in court matters only a short while; there was much he did not understand and much he could not see in full. For now he could only pin his hopes on the old man.

He said: “I do not really understand all the twists and turns here. Please, Father, quickly set out a plan so that I will know what to do.”

Tang Gang nodded. In such matters, not only Tang Mo but even Tang Rong could not think them through; both lacked experience.

“After the new year I will seek an outside post for your elder brother. Once he leaves, he cannot return for three years. In those three years I will give you my full support. How far you can go will depend on your own ability.”

Tang Mo raised an eyebrow, finding this arrangement not bad. Without Tang Rong in the way, he would not have to split his attention to watch him, and he said: “I fear he will refuse to go. And can you bear to send him away?”

“You need not worry about that,” Tang Gang said. “You always say I am partial to your elder brother and give him all the good things. Then the next three years will be your time to prove yourself. Do not let me down.”

Sending Tang Rong out had originally been only an idea, but the steamed egg sent from the palace on New Year’s Eve made him set his mind. Since Tang Mo’s development could no longer be stopped, he would go with the flow and see how far Tang Mo could go.

Tang Rong was in a difficult spot now; even if he stayed in the capital, he would achieve little and might be suppressed by Tang Mo. Thus he would likely refuse to stop, making it a fight to the end.

So sending him out was the best choice. The two brothers would each have their own sky, and three years later it would be clear who was stronger and who weaker.

Tang Mo lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then asked: “Father, is this move meant to split me off?”